Students get involved in wetland

Bangalow Public School students monitor the water quality in Byron Creek.

Bangalow Public School students have been monitoring water quality in Byron Creek with a water-testing kit presented by Rous Water.

With assistance from students at Southern Cross University (SCU), the water testing was part of a ‘Reconnecting To Country’ project.

A small band of volunteers at Bangalow are working to turn the dry riverbed adjacent to the Bangalow Pool into a natural wetland.

Barbara Jensen from Rous Water said that through this wetland, stormwater from the town would be naturally filtered of nutrients, improving biodiversity in the area and improving water quality downstream.

The wetland project includes a community planting day and the construction of a bridge and boardwalk with interpretive signage.

“The project provides a unique opportunity for students to be mentored by the older students and work on real science that has to do with water quality in the future,” Ms Jensen said.

During the next few years students from SCU will monitor the water for improvement.